Post-debate polls strengthen Romney on Rove Electoral Map

Here is Karl Rove's commentary on the most recent week of state polls:

"There are three changes in this week's Electoral College map:

"Iowa moved from 'lean Obama' to 'toss up;'

"New Hampshire shifted from 'toss up' to lean Obama;'

"and New Mexico moved from 'lean Obama' to 'safe Obama.'

"This puts Barack Obama at 201 'safe' Electoral College votes with six 'lean' states (74 EC votes), and Mitt Romney at 156 'safe' EC votes with four 'lean' states (35 EC votes).

"There are five states (72 EC votes) virtually tied. Although they did not yet change status, polls conducted at the end of last week strengthened Mr. Romney's standing in Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, and Wisconsin.

"It is likely these states will tighten and continue to move in his direction, as new surveys are taken in the wake of his strong performance in last week's debate. "

Background: We launched a special new feature in this column in August. Now through election day we'll publish the famous electoral map of the presidential race designed and researched by veteran political strategist Karl Rove.

It is a custom-made 50 state-by-state breakdown of the race at this moment in time, based upon the latest polls from each state. (Scroll down for Rove's full methodology.)

This new feature comes thanks to special permission from Rove, whose website is Rove.com and Twitter handle is @KarlRove. We recommend following him and regularly checking his website, which contains a variety of information on the presidential contest, polls and other links, including his Wall Street Journal columns.

Methodology: For each state, the map uses the average of all public telephone polls (internet polls are not included in the average) taken within 30 days of the map's release date (all polls earlier than that will drop off). For example, the map published on September 17 does not include any poll earlier than August 17, except if the latest poll in a state was conducted before August 17 (for example, the most recent poll in Indiana was taken on August 1).

States within a three-point lead for the Republican or Democratic candidate are classified as toss-ups; states between a five-to-eight-point lead for the Republican or Democratic candidate are classified as "lean" for that candidate; states outside the eight-point lead are allocated to the respective party.

Please note: for some states, the most recent polls available at this time are up to one year old and other states with no polling yet available have been classified Republican or Democrat based on their 2008 results.

Here is Karl Rove's commentary on the most recent week of state polls:

"There are three changes in this week's Electoral College map:

"Iowa moved from 'lean Obama' to 'toss up;'

"New Hampshire shifted from 'toss up' to lean Obama;'

"and New Mexico moved from 'lean Obama' to 'safe Obama.'

"This puts Barack Obama at 201 'safe' Electoral College votes with six 'lean' states (74 EC votes), and Mitt Romney at 156 'safe' EC votes with four 'lean' states (35 EC votes).

"There are five states (72 EC votes) virtually tied. Although they did not yet change status, polls conducted at the end of last week strengthened Mr. Romney's standing in Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, and Wisconsin.

"It is likely these states will tighten and continue to move in his direction, as new surveys are taken in the wake of his strong performance in last week's debate. "

Background: We launched a special new feature in this column in August. Now through election day we'll publish the famous electoral map of the presidential race designed and researched by veteran political strategist Karl Rove.

It is a custom-made 50 state-by-state breakdown of the race at this moment in time, based upon the latest polls from each state. (Scroll down for Rove's full methodology.)

This new feature comes thanks to special permission from Rove, whose website is Rove.com and Twitter handle is @KarlRove. We recommend following him and regularly checking his website, which contains a variety of information on the presidential contest, polls and other links, including his Wall Street Journal columns.

Methodology: For each state, the map uses the average of all public telephone polls (internet polls are not included in the average) taken within 30 days of the map's release date (all polls earlier than that will drop off). For example, the map published on September 17 does not include any poll earlier than August 17, except if the latest poll in a state was conducted before August 17 (for example, the most recent poll in Indiana was taken on August 1).

States within a three-point lead for the Republican or Democratic candidate are classified as toss-ups; states between a five-to-eight-point lead for the Republican or Democratic candidate are classified as "lean" for that candidate; states outside the eight-point lead are allocated to the respective party.

Please note: for some states, the most recent polls available at this time are up to one year old and other states with no polling yet available have been classified Republican or Democrat based on their 2008 results.

Select market data is provided by Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services. Price and Volume data is delayed 20 minutes unless otherwise noted, is believed accurate but is not warranted or guaranteed by Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services and is subject to Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services terms. All times are Eastern United States. *Reflects real-time index prices.